Method of and apparatus for producing nubbed yarns



y 7, 1947. A. CAVEDON 2,421,010

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NUBBED YARNS Filed May 31, 1941 2Sheets-Shea} 1 l A INVENTOR c LEXANDEE AVEDON M $9 ATTORNEY- y 27, 4 vA. cAvEDbN 2,421,010

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NUBB ED YARNS Filed m :51. 1941 2Sheet-Sheet 2 Fry 8.

INVENTOR ALEXANDER CAvEDorv ATTORNEY Paten' 7 PAT'E METHOD OF ANDAPPARATUS FOR PRODUCER NUBBED YARNS 3 Claims. (Cl. 19-145) I The presentinvention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for producingsoft nub or spot yarns, i. e., yarns having incorporated therein nubs orspots of fibrous material of different character or color, as contrastedto the yarns themselves.

Nubbed yarns have heretofore been produced by feeding soft or unspun nubmaterial in the form of separate strands to a point adjacent the doflerof a finishing card, where the strands are cut to deposit separate nubson the traveling web of carded fibres, before the web is acted upon bythe usual dividing and condensing devices for formation into separateslivers. Thus, the nubs dropped onto the web become pressed into thesame, and as the web is divided and condensed,

the nubs finally become incorporated in the resulting yarns. Apparatusfor feeding and cutting nubs from separate strands is described in mycopending application, Serial No. 358,991, filed September 30, 1940,since issued as Patent No. 2334 542 dated November 16, 1943.

While the above described apparatus fordepositing separate nubs on acarded web is satisfactory for certain types of material, difllcultieshave been encountered in obtaining finished nubbed yarn of uniformquality, due to the tendency of the separately out nubs to distributethemselves unevenly on the carded web. As a result, nubs will either bebunched along the yarns. without being firmly attached, Or will belacking altogether, due to loss of some of the loose nubs in thecondensing operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method ofand apparatus for producing nubbed yarns in such a manner as tocompletely overcome difliculties heretofore encountered in theproduction of 'such yarns, due to the inherent tendency of separate nubsto distribute themselves unevenly on the carded web. Briefly stated, thepresent invention resides in presenting the nub material to the cardedweb in the form of a continuous sheet or lap, wherein the fibres of thenub material are loosely connected in a thin web closely approximatingthe web of carded fibres that-is to be formed into yarns. Coincidentallywithv the travel of the carded web from the dofier to the condenser, the

continuous lap of nub material is fed and cut intermittently to deposit.strips of such material transversely of the web and at regularintervals. These lap strips then travel .with the web into thecondenser, where both the web and theoverlying lap strips aresimultaneously subjected to a dividing and condensing action. The netresult is the uniform division of the lap strips of nub materialsimultaneously with the web, so that when the condensed slivers of weband lap are subsequently twisted, the nub material becomes an integralpart of the resulting yarns, appearing as spots at regular intervalstherein.

The above and other advantageous features of the invention willhereinafter more fully appear from the following description consideredin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in perspective, illustrating the principleof'the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale. 11- lustrating the divisionof the web and lap strips into slivers for formation into yarn.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the dividing rolls of the condenser,further'illustrating the dividing action and resulting distribution ofthe nub material.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary views, illustrating the driving means forthe lap feeding and cutting devices shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modification in the manner of feeding the lap ofnub material.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, illustrating a portion of the parts ofFig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, a portion of the doffer of a finishing cardis illustrated at i, from which a web 2 of carded fibres is adapted tobe stripped in the usual manner by a comb 3. After being stripped fromthe dofier l, the web 2 passes to the dividing rolls 4 of a condenser,the operation of which serves to form slivers from the web forsubsequent conversion into individual yarns in the usual manner. Anapron 5 serves to support the web 2 in its passage between the dofier Iand the dividing roll 4, and the present invention contemplates theprovision of means to deposit continuous strips 6 of fibrous nubmaterial upon the web 2, which strips extend transversely at regularintervals across the web, as indicated.

A supply of nub material is indicated at N, as being in the form of acontinuous sheet or lap wound on a roll I. The lap is composed offibrous material of different color or character from the fibrescomposing the web 2, with the lap fibres in relatively looserelationapproximating the ting of the lap,

. e t v condition and arrangement of the fibres constituting the web 2.The lap sheet N extends downwarly between feed rolls 8, and then betweenthe relatively movable blades 9 and I! of device. The blades and II arelocated a short distance above the web apron I, and the rolls I areadapted to intermittently feed predetermined amounts of lap between theblades when the latter are open, as shown. Following each lap feed. theblade I is reciprocated, as indicated by the arrows, to cut of! acontinuous lap strip 8, which falls upon the traveling web 2 of cardedfibres.

As a result of the intermittent feeding and cutthe strips 6 will be laidat intervals on the traveling web 2, in advance of its between thedividing rolls 4 of the condensing device. The essential elements of thecondensing device are indicated diagrammatically in Fi 1, as consistingof several sets of tapes H adapted to pass aroimd guide rolls i2, withthe tapes I I being adapted to convey the divided fibres to a pluralityof pairs of condensing aprons It.

Referringnow to Fig. 2, it is evident that as the web 2, with the lapstrips 8 extending transversely thereof enters between the rolls 4, thetapes II will divide the web longitudinally. Furthermore, as each strip6 enters between the rolls l, the strip will be divided in the samemanher, the axis oi such division being indicated at .r-z in Fig. 2. Asthe tapes ii carryin the divided-fibres pass to the several rolls I2, itis evident that each band of divided web fibres will carry separategroups 6a of lap fibres, as divided from the lap strips 6. These groupsdo of lap fibres will be absolutely uniform length and width, and willbe spaced along the bands 2d at regular intervals, as determined by thefrequency of the lap feed and cutting with relation to the rate oftravel of the carded web 2. It is evident from a consideration of Fig.3, that the arrangement of the groups to of lap fibres, will beabsolutely uniform and symmetrical as the several sets of tapes Ii carrythe bands 2a between the condensing aprons I3.

I As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. the aprons II are driven inunison, accompanied by relative reciprocatory movement, 50 that eachband of divided web fibres 2a is condensed into a continuous sliver 2b.This condensing action also takes on the groups 8a of lap fibres, whichbecome integrally united with the web place at intervals fibres 2a atregular intervals, due to the fact that both the web and lap fibresextend in substantial parallel relation. The condensing action is indicated at 11-1! in Fig. 2, from which it is evident that the individualslivers 2b will have the same appearance as regards the incorporation ofthe groups of lap fibres'ia, as have the bands 2a. Therefore, when theslivers 2b are twisted, as indicated at H in Fig. 2, the finished yarn20 will exhibit nubs 6b at regular intervals, which nubs, while slightlylarger than the finished yarns, will nevertheless form integral parts ofthe yamsdue to the dividing and condensing action previously described.That is to say, it will be practically impossible to separate the hubslb from the final yarns 20, due to the interlocking of fibres thatfollows from dividing and conde'nsing the lap strips 6, simultaneouslywith the carded web 2.

As a result of the practice of my invention, it is possible to producefinished yarns providing uniformly spaced nubs composed of almost anytype of fibrous material that can be formed into a cona cutting tinuoussheet or lap. The excellent results that have been obtained are duelargeiy to the fact that there is no initial condensation of the nubmaterial, such as occurs when the material is formed into individualstrands. in advance of being cut into short lengths and deposited asready-formed nubs more or less at random on the moving web of cardedfibres. In other words, the spots which appear in finished yarnsresulting from the practice of the present invention. never really existas separate nubs, such as might be cut from continuous strands, but onthe contrary, are merely groups of fibres in web form intimately relatedwith the fibres of the carded web by the dividing, condensing and finalspinning operations.

As previously pointed out, apparatus for feeding and cutting nubmaterial as individual strands is described in my aforesaid copendingapplication, Serial No. 358,991, and for purposes oi illustration, asimilar mechanism is utilized for feeding and cutting the lap of nubmaterial, as utilized in accordance with the present invention. As bestshown in Fig. 4, a shaft ll rotatably driven from any suitable source ofpower, extends across the apparatus above the knife blade i0 and carriesat one enda crank i5, having a roll i5a adapted to impart areciprocatory movement to a. slide l6, carrying an actuator H. Theopposite end of the slide it carries a pawl arm i8 turnable on a shaftis carrying the lower feed roll 8. A pawl 20 engages a ratchet wheel 2|,turnable with the shaft I9, so that reciprocatory movement of the slidei6 by the crank i5 imparts intermittent rotative movement of the feedrolls 8. which are geared together for rotation in unison.

The shaft M, as viewed from the opposite side in Fig. 5, carries asecond crank 22, having a pin 22a adapted to actuate one end of a lever23, pivoted at 24. The opposite end of the lever 23 is connected by alink 25 to a cross bar 26 horizontally movable in a guideway 21. Asimilar guideway is provided at the opposite side of the apparatus, andthe movable blade 9 is supported by the bar 26. Consequently, eachrevolution of the drive shaft I4 is adapted to impart a horizonto!movement to the knife blade 9 with respect to the stationary blade ill,with the blade 9 being returned to its open position by a spring 28acting on the lever 23.

The cranks l5 and 22 are mounted on the drive shaft ll in such angularrelation that the feed rolls 8 are turned through a predetermined anglewhile the knife blades 9 and iii are held open, to

' feed a predetermined length of the nub lap N ing carded web 2. The lapis shown as having,

been fed, in Fig.- 1, with the knife blade 9 about to operate, so thatthe lap strip 6 previously out has already been moved away from beneaththe stationary blade 10 to the extent shown,

In order to prevent the relatively loose fibres of the lap N beingsubjected to any pullin strain, a drum 29, which freely supports thelaproll I on its periphery, is adapted to be intermittently driven inunison with the feed rolls 8. To this and, the lower feed roll I isconnected by gearing 30 to a pulley 3i, which is in turn connected by abelt 32 to a pulley 29a on the drum -29. The ratio of-the gearing andpulleys 29a and Si is such that any point on the periphery knife bladesby a single feeding movement of the rolls 8.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, there is shown I a modified arrangementfor handling a lap composed of the fibres of an extremely fragile lightmaterial such as rabbit's hair, which tends to separate easily. In thisarrangement, the lap 33 is wound on a roll 3t in overlying relation to acontinuous web 35, of paper or other suitable material, having a muchgreater tensile strength than the lap 33. The paper web 35 thereforeseparates overlying layers of the lap to prevent stickingbetween-layers, and both layers carried by the roll 34 bear on theperiphery of a. drum 36 mounted to rotate freely between spaced framemembers 31.

The lap 33 passes downwardly from the drum 36 directly between the knifeblades 9 and Ni, and it is to be noted that the relatively fragile laphas only a very short distance to travel. The paper web 35, which is indirect contact with the drum 36, passes around the drum and upwardly toa drum 29', which is adapted to be intermittently driven from a ratchetshaft it in the same manner as the drum 29 of Fig. 1 is driven from thelower feed roll shaft IS. A take-up roll 38 bears freely on theperiphery of the drum 29, around which roll 39 the paper web 33 is woundas the drum 29' turns. Therefore, intermittent turning of the drum 29'will serve to unwind the paper web from the roll 3t, and thereby feedthe lap 33 downwardly for operation upon by the knife blades, withoutimparting any tension to the lap such as would separate its fibres.

In order to positively hold a predetermined amount of lap 33 between theknife blades coincidentally with operation of the feed drum 29' to drawoil the paper web 35, a combing device is provided, which is best shownin Fig. 7. This device comprises a bar 39 extending the width of the lap93, and providing a number of teeth 60.

Ill

The teeth to extend through slots til provided in a plate t2 spaced froma second plate 43, with the lap 33 passing between the plates, whichterminate just above the stationary knife blade ill.

The plate 62 is inclined from the vertical, so that the movement of thebar 99, as guided by the plate, causes the teeth 60 to be entirelywithdrawn from the web 33, with the bar in its upper position. However,as the bar 39 moves downwardly, the teeth to penetrate the web slightly,so as to hold the web adjacent the knife blade ill at the end of the webfeeding movement, thereby insuring that a strip of uniform width will becut from the fragile web by operation of the knife blades.

Reciprocatory movement is adapted to be imparted to the bar 39 by meansof an extension M provided on the pawl arm l8, which receives anoscillatory movementfrom the drive shaft has previously described withreference to Fig. 4. The extension M is connected by a link to an arm 43turna'ble with a shaft 41, rotatably mounted between the frame members31. The shaft 41 also carries spaced arms 58 inside the frame members31, withthe free ends of the arms 48 connected to the bar 39 by rods 49and swivel Joints 50. The Joints Eli permit relative pivotal movementbetween the rods 49 and the arms 48 as the bar 39 moves up and down.Therefore, each turning movement of the feed'drum 29' through theratcheting device is accompanied by downward movement of the bar 39,with a guide Iii parallel to the plate 42 serving to swing the teeth 49inwardly enough to engage the lap 33 at the end of the feeding movement.0n the return non-feeding stroke of the pawl arm I8, a

- spring 52 serves to move the bar 39 upwardly,

accompanied by withdrawal of the teeth 4| from the lap. Thus, eachrevolution of the drive shaft I4 is accompanied by indirect feeding ofthe lap by unrolling of the paper web, and holding of the lap adjacentthe knife blades by the comb bar 39 at the end of a feed, prior tooperation of the knife blades.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by the present inventiomthere isprovided an improved method of and apparatus for the production ofnubbed or spotted yarn, characterized by the feeding of the nub materialas a, continuous sheet or lap, from which strips 'are cut for deposit atregular intervals on the moving web of carded fibres to be subsequentlydivided into slivers coincidentally with the web itself.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for producing spotted yarns comprising in combination meansfor conveying a web of carded fibres in a substantially horizontal planefrom a doffer, with the carded fibres extending generally in thedirection of movement of said web, means for supporting a supplyoffibrous nub material in lap sheet form, adjacent to said web, means forcutting continuous strips from said lap and depositing said strips atregular intervals directly upon said moving carded web,

with the strip fibres approximating the arrangement and condition of theunderlying web 'fibres, and means for dividing and condensing said lapstrips simultaneously with said carded web to produce spotted yarns,each having equal portions of said strips incorporated therein atregular intervals.

2. The improvement in the manufacture of spotted or nubbed yarns whichconsists in continuously conveying a web or carded fibres in asubstantially horizontal plane between a dofler and a dividing andcondensing apparatus, with the fibres of said carded web extendingsubstantially in the direction of movement of said web, intermittentlyfeeding a continuous sheet of fibrous nub material downwardly in thedirection of said carded web to a point just above said web, cuttingtransversely across said nub sheet in the intervals between the feedingthereof to deposit continuous strips, as cut from said sheet, inuniformly spaced relation across said moving web of carded fibres, withthe fibres of each strip approximating the arrangement and condition ofthe underlying fibres of the carded web, and finally dividing andcondensing said nub strips simultaneously with said carded web toproduce spotted yarns each havin equal portions of said. stripsincorporated therein at regular intervals.

3. Apparatus for the production of yarn, comprising in combination meansfor conveying a web of carded fibres in a substantially horizontal planebetween a doffer and a dividing and condensing apparatus, with thefibres of said carded web extending generally in the direction ofmovement of said web, means for supporting a supply of fibrous nubmaterial in continuous sheet form. above said web, means forintermittently feeding said sheet of nub material to a point just abovesaid carded web, and means for cutting continuous strips from said sheetin the intervals'between feeding thereof, to deposit separate strips inuniformly spaced parallel relation transversely across said moving webof carded fibres, and with the fibres of said strips approximating thear- 207,212 n w; Aim-20, 1878 Name Date Denton Sept. 10,1889 Masonet-al. June 4, 1895 Camp Sept. 21, 1937 Knight Dec. 7, 1937 FOREIGNPATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 23, 1923 Germany July 22, 1918 1Great Britain Jan. 6, 1936 Germany July 31, 1930

